Animal trap



J i 948. c. w. cRUMRINE 2,445,166.

ANIMAL TRAP Filed Dec. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR NEYS J y 1948- c. w. CRUMRINE 2,445,166

' ANIMAL TRAP Filed Dec. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l- IIIIIIIIIIIA'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA\ INVENTOR ATT NEYS Patented July 13, 1948 v v a i w 2,445,166 i I ANIMAL TRAP Chester W. Grumrine, Irondequoit' Township;

Monroe. County, N; Y., ass ignor,- by mesne; as-

signments, to: L 15 0 Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application December l7, 1942, Serial No. 469,308

This invention relates te -animal traps=-and particularly to automatic traps which are espe'-' cially useful in the extermination of rodents.

Many prior art'attempts have been made to provide trap devices with" means f'o'r automatically resetting traps after an animalf has been caught, as well as for removing the body o'fthe ani'rn'al'from the region whereit is initially trapped."'The most frequentlyoccurring of theseprior "devi-cesdepend generally upon the volition of the animal for movement from an initial Zone, either under'theurgeofcuriosity or in anendeavor to escape'fromthetrap. According to the principles of the present invention the movements of thetrapped animal after his initialentry intothe trapping 'zoneare 'fully controlled-by the't'rap:

ping'means and are not dependent in any man ner'on voluntar faction of'the animal.

"As will be seen 'from the following description of an exemplary embodimentof the' invention; the mere presence of an animal ina=tra=pping zone initiates a cycle of operation which includes positively and forcibly moving the'anima-l -to-"a confined area where he is electrocuted, following which the body of the animal-"isaut'omatical ly 'moved'to a fii'rther zone to free the confined electrocution area forfsiibsequent use onanother animal. Immediately following the" movement of the animal body' to theconfined' area' at the beginning bf the cycle of operation the animalmoving instrumental'ities are} automatically conditioned' for forcibly movin another animal 'toth'e"confined a-rea' upon entry of such other ammal into thetrappin'gzonei 'I-Iieentire cycle of operation issliort -induration 'and, further, successive cybles= may overlap to a certain extent: For this reason theefiiciency of the device isgrea'tly enhanced audit is in fact able to deal with conditions suchas are encounteredin highly infested areas." Extermination 'on' a-wholesale 'scal'e rnay-fbe efficiently 'practicedi' e The present thetrappingoperatior'i is of suc nature-as not to excite the suspicion of the animal andthe succession "of events following this impulse is carried out in such a manner anda't suohspeed as toabsolutely preclude" the possibility of escape of the animal; Thegeneral trappingarrangemerit of the invention is, moreover such that nothing in the trapping cycle is calculated to dis courage: other animals from subsequently enterrap r toarousetheirsuspi'ciorr as to-the ing th nature-of thedevic'e. I

invention-is further 'characterizedi by the fact that the initial impulse which begins 2 Claims." (01. 43-99);

While'a singlespecific embodiment; oiythei- -in i vention is illustrated in the rdrawings-wandggldeer, scribed herein by way-off example; it;i's;to,tbezum-Z- derstood' that the broad principles of thezinven'ee tion' are not limited thereto or otherwise tham-ase 1' but on an enlarged: scale and. inlanotherrposies tion of operatiom-andi a H Fig.4 is a schematic-viewer thBFelflCfiIOfillfiOIla: portion of the device-and a complete wirihgi'diae gram of-the apparatus.

Throughout the several figures Off theadrawi'ngs', like characters of reference denoteelikeapants andx the numeral 1 0-." designates generallya boxelike;

casing 'or housinghaving' a bottom'r-wall; lrignfrontz.

and rear walls [2: and l3 respectively; side walls; M and I5; armatopclosurelwalklifiihinged' to the side wall M as at" I1. It will be noted i tl'rat.

a portion of the bottom wall I l: is: brokenzsawaya toform a passageway l9, Fig; 1 and this-clean:

passageway extends entirely from the frontzwalli I-2 'to' the r'ear Wall I3; there being entran'ceways:

formed-in these two walls ateachend of the'pa's'e sagewa'yl9 The entranceways in-thewalls- I21 and I3 are designated 21?- and 22-; respectively and cooperate with the passageway l9.- toiprovidei aclear and uninterrupted" zone -which forms a mere continuation of the floor or'other surfacel upon which'the trap-may be resting. Itei's dur-n ingthe free passage of: an animal throughrthiajv zone that its freedom is" abruptly arrested and;

the entire trapping and'disposing cycle ist -begunp' and automatically continueditocompletioni w "A light source is 1 designated; 251 and raysithereafrom are normally received 'by'amirrorlfitsuite ably-secured at the oppositeside of the; animal. e

passageway. The mirror 26 isipositioned aursuchiair angle as to reflect light" from the sourcei"-25 to a photoelectrica cell (not showna) which!forms:- a part of-a photoelectricrelay unit;designated12|r in Figs. 1-: and 3. The details of this: unit-need. not be illustrated since it is available commercially and its principles are known tothoseskilled in the electrical arts; Relaysof this lrsind are marketed by: the General Electric:- Gompany under the designation Photoelectric; Relay!andL comprise, essentially, a photoelectric -cellz,con;;.g

nected in the grid circuit of an electronic amplifying tube, the output circuit of which controls the condition of a micro-switch. The unit includes potentiometers and suitable transformers for using the unit with ordinary 110 volt alternating current. Further, commercial units of this kind may be selectively connected in such a way that themicro-switch Will be either opened or closed by energization f the photoelectric cell.

In the example now being described the relay will be so connected as to hold the micro-switch thereof open at all times when the light ray from the source 25 reaches the photoelectric cell of the relay 2'! uninterrupted. Interruption of the ray by the presence of an animal across its path results in closure of the micro-switch which immediately moves the animal from the open passageway IS in a manner which will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 30 designates an open rectangular frame -whose upper edge is hingedly connected to the top closure Is as at 3| and whose lower portion 32 is of substantial vertical extent, see Fig. 2, whereby it may sweep across the animal passageway and forcibly remove an animal therefrom in a lateral direction with respect to the passageway. It will be noted that the lower portion 32 is slotted as at 33 to avoid interference with the light rays both between the source 25 and the mirror 28 and between the mirror 26 and the relay unit 21. The avoidance of such interference is of particular importance with respect to the return stroke of the frame 30. To reinforce the thus-divided lower portion 32 an intermediate horizontal rail 34 is shown in Fig. 2. The frame is normally held in inoperative but preset position, that being the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, by spring-pressed detent pins 35 which engage seat elements 36 secured to the front and rear walls l2 and I3 of the device. Openings 3! formed in the lower portion 32 of the frame 30 reduce air friction during the sweeping swing of the frame 30 and lighten the frame whereby its inertia is reduced.

The lower portion 32 of the frame 30 constitutes in' effect an animal impeller, and for moving the impeller quickly and forcibly across the animal passageway, by pivotal movement of the frame 30, an-electromagnet 40 is provided. The coils of the electromagnet are in series with the microswitch of the photoelectric relay 2'! so that they become energized immediately upon interruption of the light rays between the light source 25 and the. photoelectric relay. This circuit is an inherent part ofthe commercial photoelectric relay hereinbefore referred to and an understanding of its operation is not required to practicethe present'invention. It is merely necessary to attach input conductors 38 and 39 to the proper terminals of the photoelectric relay, as shown in Fig. 4, and to connect output conductors to other terminals of the relay, which conductors are to be energized during periods when the light beam is interrupted, in accordance with directions furnished with the relay.

- The electromagnet 40 has a core or armature 4| which is normally held in the position of Fig. 1 by apair of extension coil springs 42 which connect between it and. a plate 43 which is loosely pivoted to a pair of abutment blocks 44 which are secured to the under side of the hinged top closurelG. A pin 45 is supported at its ends by plate 43 as shown in Fig. 2 and engages corresponding ends of springs 42. The pivotal connection' of the plate 43 to the blocks 44 may be by means of pins 46 engaging clearance openings formed in the plate 43.

The upper marginal portion of the frame 30 has a bar 48 secured thereto whose surface is so formed as to provide a cam for engagement with the abutting surface of the plate 43 at a point spaced upwardly substantially from the pivotal support of the plate. By reason of the curved surface of the bar 48 its point of engagement with the plate 43 varies in different angular positions of the frame 30 as the latter moves on its hinges 3 I. Beginning with the parts in the full line position of Fig. 1, the plate 43, when the electromagnet is energized and through the medium of the springs 42, exercises a force tending to pivot the frame 30 in a counterclockwise direction, or to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. The lever arm of this force is measured from the pivotal axis of the frame 30 to the point of tangential engagement between the plate 43 and the cam bar 48. It will be noted that this lever arm decreases progressively as the frame moves to the right as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, until a minimum lever arm is reached when the frame is in its extreme right hand position, shown in Fig. 3.

This arrangement has the advantage of providing a relatively long lever arm at the beginning of the active stroke of the frame 30 when it must be moved free of the detents 35, 36 and its inertia must. be overcome, with a shorter lever arm for swift movement of the frame to the end of its effective stroke after a certain degree of acceleration has been imparted to the frame. The springs 42 store energy at the beginning of the cycle, when the attractive force of the magnet has not reached maximum and its effect on the armature is low by reason of the relative remoteness of the latter. When the stored energy is suflicient to free the frame 30 from the detents 35, 36, the stored energy, plus the then full force of the electromagnet, move the frame 30 swiftly to the dot and dash line position of Fig. 1. Upon subsequent de-energization of electromagnet 40, the frame 30 swings from the dot-and-dash line osition of Fig. 1 under the force of gravity and its inertia is sufficient to carry it beyond a perpendicular position and into retaining engagement by the detents 35, 36.

In Fig. 1 the numeral 50 designates an arcuate ramp which cooperates with the lower portion 32 of the frame 30 to direct the animal upwardly in the casing after the frame 30 has swung past the entranceways 2| and 22 of the passageway. The frame 30 throws the animal against a casing portion comprising an oblique wall section 5| which extends horizontally between the front and rear walls l2 and I3 of the casing. The wall 5| is so disposed as to deflect the animal into an electrocution chamber which is defined by a fixed bar or plate 52 disposed adjacent the upper edge of the ramp 50 and a movable wall portion 54, which, as will later appear, occupies the dot and dash line position of Fig. 1 when an animal body is projected into the trough-like chamber so formed.

The Wall portion 54 is hinged at its upper end to the side wall l5 as shown at 55 and is movable to the full line position illustrated for the purpose of depositing an animal body in a drawer or receptacle 60 after electrocution is complete. The drawer 60 may be removed through a suitable opening in either the front wall l2 or the rear wall l3, and for convenience the adjacent end of drawer 60 may comprise the closure for the wall opening. although this detail forms no part of the present invention. In the present instance arcane the electrodes are shown schematically inuPigt -e toinompriseopposedgrills'z 8,1; .andzfl botli carnied onitiieiace: oi; the. bar or. plate 523..

."I?he.-manner..in which. theaenergizatiorr;lor the electrodeaand .the positioni. 0151 :the hinged. '.wall portion 54:15. controlled; shall now-be described? "A transformer. of. suitable} capacity is illustrated ate. in: Fig.2 1. anditszprimary: and secondary windings are shown schematically at 64 and 55, respectively, in Fig. 4. The primary circuit of the transformer is as follows. The numerals 68 and 69 designate a pair of conductors constituting a source of power supply which may merely be a connection in parallel with the power supply connections of the photoelectric relay 21 so that the plugging in of a single wall plug or the like suffices to power the entire device.

Besides the primary winding 64, the primary circuit 68, 69 includes a normally open switch 310 and a winding H which, when the primary circuit is closed, serves to hold an armature 12 against the switch to maintain the same in circuit closing position. For initially closing the primary circuit 68, 69, conductors l5 and 15 connect in parallel with the terminals of the electromagnet 40, whereby the circuit 15, 16 is given a momentary energization concurrently with energization of the electromagnet 40. The circuit I5, 16 includes a winding 11 which acts upon an armature 18 to initially close the normally open switch 10 of the primary transformer circuit 68, 69. To this end the armatures l2 and 18 are fixed to a common operating bar 19, and in Fig. 4 this same bar 19 has pivotal connection with the hinged wall element 54 to move it to the dot and dash line osition of Fig. 1 for receiving and holding an animal 'in position to be electrocuted. The wall portion 54 is normally biased to the full line position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and this may be effected by simply using spring hinges at 55.

It will be seen from the foregoing that initial closure of the switch 10 by reason of the momentary energization of the circuit l5, 16 results in the circuit 68, 69 being held closed after the initial impulse of the circuit l5, 16 through operation of the winding H and armature 12. A bimetallic switching device 80 is also disposed in the primary circuit 68, B9.- This switch is closed at ordinary temperatures but is arranged to be heated by current flow and accordingly opens automatically at a predetermined time after the electrocuting circuit is initiated.

The secondary winding 65 of the transformer 53 is connected in series with the spaced electrodes SI and 62 as is clear from Fig. 4. It will be noted that opening of the primary circuit through the bimetallic switch element frees the normally open switch 10 and causes the hinged wall element 54 to move to its full line position, under the impetus of the spring hinges 55. This pivotal movement "of the wall element 54 permits the body of the animal to be deposited in the drawer or receptacle 50.

It will be noted that lifting of the top closure wall It by pivotal movement about its hinges l'l withdraws the frame 30 and its various operating parts, including the photoelectric relay 2'', from the casing Ill. The structure is thus readily made accessible for inspection, adjustment or repair. To render inspection of the interior of the casing l0 safe, a switch device 85 may be disposed against a wall of the casing Ill, for instance the wall IS in Fig. 1, with one contact element 86 thereof secured to the top closure Hi. This switch may be arranged in the main power supply circuit of the 6 device and wllllthreforet resuliiii'm assurance that all. circuits. of, the device are open. whenever, the top closure IGis raised; H When an animal by its presence in passageway .l9 interrupts light-travel from 'source 25 to the photoelectric relay unit 21,..electromagnet,QB is 'energizedQto; pull the frame. 3' outof its en a m et wi d e fi and n dlv to the" 9 tionillusti'ated "n do and dash li'nes iii Fig. 1. An animal is thus swept from the passageway and thrown against wall 5| and drops between plate 52 and movablewall portion 54, the latter being then in the dot and dash line position of Fig. 1. This exposes the animal to the electrocuting grills GI and 62 of plate 52. After a suitable time delay occasioned by the bimetallic switch 80, the holding circuit established by winding 1| opens and door 54 moves to the full line position of Fig. 1 under the actuation of spring hinge 55 and. the electrocuted animal falls into receptacle 60. Bimetallic time delay switch also interrupts the electrocuting circuit. The energization of winding 40 which is occasioned by interruption of the light beam to photoelectric relay 21 is momentary so that frame 30 swings back to its full line position the right, as

trap for a subsequent trapping operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An animal trap comprising a housing having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough at its bottom side to provide an unobstructed longitudinal animal passageway, said housing having a casing portion laterally adjacent said passageway, means normally adjacent said passageway opposite said casing portion and movable across said passageway to project an animal into said casing portion, an electrical operator for said movable means, and light sensitive means actuated by the presence of an animal in said passageway for energizing said operator to move said movable means quickly from normal position to said casing portion to project an animal thereinto, an electrocutin portion insaid casing portion, said electrocuting portion being energized simultaneously with said operator, and time delay means for maintaining said electrocuting portion energized for a predetermined interval of time.

2. An animal trap comprising a housing having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough at its bottom side to provide an unobstructed longitudinal animal passageway, said housing having a casing portion laterally adjacent said passageway, means normally adjacent said passageway opposite said casing portion and movable across said passageway to project an animal into said casing portion, an electrical operator for said movable means, and light sensitive means actuated by the presence of an animal in said passageway for energizing said operator to move said movable means quicklyfrom normal position to said casing portion to project an animal thereinto, an electrocuting portion in said casing portion, said electrocuting portion being energized simultaneously with said operator, time delay means for maintaining said electrocuting portion energized for a predetermined interval of time, and means likewise operable by said time delay means for freeing the animal body from the electrocuting zone at the end of said predetermined interval.

CHESTER W. CRUMRINE.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED Tfie following referencs are of record 111113111: file of this patent; v f UNITED STATES PATENTS. I

Nimiber Name 7 Date Shulenbarger Feb 3, 1880 Bragunier ;Apr.f17,- 1894 Number C01We11 et a1 Feb. 23, 1943' 

